As we wanted an event in our own grounds, we decided to opt for a weekend - reduced to one day - in HOME (Historical Open-air Museum Eindhoven). We had the idea for a textileworking day, so everyone could make some progress with new or yet to finish projects in clothing, embroidery or other cloth materials. Nijso instructed a young lad in making a leather purse, Machteld had just brought their daughter Merel to watch to spend the day. Isis and sabine sewed and chatted a bit; Bertus avoided doing anything altogether, and I was not too productive either, apart from making some sausages, setting the pan on fire (no sausages were hurt during this process) of which we unfortunately have no pictures due to the consternation.

We used this day for two other things: making an annoying amount of photographs and networking with the specially invited St Thomas' Guild from Nijmegen. Unexpectedly, this group consisting of two couples and an army of children, portrays the exact same period we do with a comparable theme, but in Nijmegen instead of Deventer. For them HOME is like home, they do this every now and then, but from our group, only Sabine knew the park well, apart from a weekend years ago where Bertus and Isis went, and where I should have been too but due to poor directions and the hidden surroundings my chauffeur and I decided to call it a night.

Bertus and Isis had prepared two pies (an applepie and a pie with mushrooms, cheese and meat) and pancakes and had brought bread, cheese, marmalade and applesyrup and fish and ate this with the sausages. The harty pie was for the evening, where were shared it with the St Thomas Guild in return for some of their pie and strawberry pudding. It was a very pleasant, quiet day; except for some naughty boys there were very few visitors, and all very friendly. The weather was great, too: not too warm but very sunny, only a bit windy from time to time. After dinner the sky went gray and when we left, it started raining. The sunlight gave me the opportunity to try out some photographs with exquisite lighting.

As a response on the post of Bertus about his beautiful new belt, I have made a belt a normal civilian would have worn around 1370. Medieval belts consist of the following three elements, fixed on a leather strap or a woven silk band: A buckle, a strap end and belt mounts. A hanger for a purse, sword or knife is also sometimes used. Here, I have attached a small purse hanger, typically for an alms purse. The buckle was usually made of brass or gunmetal. The D-shaped buckle was very popular, as well as the O-shaped buckle. Buckles with a metal roller that you often see on bags and belts nowadays were already used in the 14th century.The strap end can be cast or made from a thin sheet of metal, either brass or tin coated iron.The belt mounts can be made in the same way. When made of sheet, the shap, a flower or some other simple shape, is struck in the metal sheet with a hammer and a punch and cut and filed to shape. The belts were usually only a few millimeters larger than the mounts. Here the mounts were 15 mm wide and the width of the belt is 18 mm. Some belts were not wider than 4-5 mm, but belts of 4-5 cm were also in use.

The price of a black leather belt listed in the accounts of Jean of Blois was 6 great. A big difference compared to the more than 18 pounds paid for the silver belt of Bertus (with about 6 great in a schelling and 20 schelling in a pound).

The belt mounts are from an example in 'Dress Accessories' from Egan and Pritchard and was found in a layer dating from 1350-1400. The type of purse hanger used here was in use from the 13th century.

In 1344 the count of Holland, William IV, had his sword cleaned and refurbished with a new scabbard and belt. Anno 2010 my own sword was in need of such a new habitat as well. With the following mid to late 14th century sources in hand I contacted The Upperclass, with which they made a fabulous piece of work.

The real thing in black leather with brass mounts.(pictures copyright The Upperclass 2011)